On the go and no time to finish that story right now? Your News is the place for you to save content to read later from any device. Register with us and content you save will appear here so you can access them to read later.

The Māori advocate was the leader and elder of Ngāti Ranginui and a descendant of Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Awa. He had been a supporter for the coming together of Māori and non-Māori in the region for many decades.

Related articles:

In 2007, he was a recipient of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his contribution to Māori. At 89 years old, Dr Ngatoko Rahipere received an honorary doctorate from the University of Waikato for his contribution to the university over many years.

He had been instrumental in shaping the Tauranga City Council's relationship with Tangata Whenua of Tauranga Moana for more than 30 years and had also provided cultural guidance to the Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

Tauranga City Council Strategic Māori Engagement manager Carlo Ellis said although he was known as Dr Ngatoko Rahipere, to many he was simply "Uncle Morehu".

"He was always a strong advocate for the rights of tangata whenua here with firm but fair views. He was a wealth of knowledge on matters of history and tikanga māori," he said.

Ellis described Dr Ngatoko Rahipere as a "humble leader" who fought for many years to have the manawhenua of Ngai Tamarawaho acknowledged throughout Tauranga.

Former Tauranga City Mayor Stuart Crosby said the news was a "big loss to the city".

"He was a quiet leader that was highly respected. When he spoke everyone listened."

Crosby said Dr Ngatoko Rahipere played an "enormous" role in improving the relationship of Tauranga Moana Iwi and the Tauranga City Council.

He had a calm demeanour and was often the voice of reason during discussions, Crosby said.

"He would often say 'Let's sit down and talk about it.' The vast majority of times we would listen and work the issue through," Crosby said.

Thousands of people were expected to attend Dr Ngatoko Rahipere's farewell including the Māori King, Kiingi Tuheitia who was due to arrive at Huria Marae today.

Despite making many great achievements in his lifetime, Dr Ngatoko Rahipere told the Bay of Plenty Times in 2007 that his greatest achievement was his large whanau.

Dr Ngatoko Rahipere will lay in state at Wairoa Marae, Tauranga on Tuesday, February 20. At 8am on Wednesday, February 21, he will be taken to Huria Marae, Tauranga where he will spend the duration of his Tangihanga. The funeral service will be on Friday, February 23 at 7.30am. Following that Dr Ngatoko Rahipere will be taken to his final resting place at Motuōpae.